Dentometer.



PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905.

- NQYSHOCKLEY.

DENTOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15 1904.

/VdJ/zaa/Zk Witnesse Inventor,

I I Y I Httorbegs;

' from that shown in Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

NED SHOCKLEY, OF FARRAGUT, IOWA.

DENTOIVIETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,919, dated. January24, 1905. Application filed July 15, 1904:. Serial No. Z16,'729.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, NED SHocKLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Farragut, in the county of Fremont and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Dentometer, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to dentometers.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement of the characterspecified which shall be simple of construction, thoroughly efiicientand durable in use, and which with readiness and case may be manipulatedto make exact the measurements of the circumference of teeth to whichthe bands are to be applied.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a dentometer, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thespirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation viewed from thegraduated side of the shank. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken atright angles to Fig. 1 with the handle detached from the shank. Fig. 3is a detail view of the measuring-band. Fig. 4. is a view of one end ofthe shank, taken from the opposite side Fig. 5 is a sectional detailview of the terminal of the shank.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the shank or stock of theimplement, and 2 a handle detachably connected therewith and providedwith a scriber 3, the function of which will presently appear. The shankmay be made of any suitable material, preferably of steel andplano-convex in cross-section, the

plane or flat side being provided with a graduated scale 4, preferablylaid off with the metric system. The handle 2 may be made of anysuitable material, such as wood or bone,

having a ferrule combined therewith and provided with the scriber, or itmay be of a solid piece of metal of the same or other character as theshank. The handle is provided with a threaded stem 5,'designed to engagea threaded extending beyond the shoulders 8 of the head,

forming thereby an opening 9, that extends entirely through the end ofthe tapered portion of the shank adjacent to the said shoulders. Thetapered portion is further provided with a guide 10, which is bypreference integral with the structure, although, if preferred, it maybe made as a separate element and suitably combined therewith.

Mounted upon the shank is a slide 11, carrying a set-screw 12, by whichto hold it at any desired adjustment, the slide being provided with apointer 13, adapted to coact with the scale 4. in ascertainingmeasurements. The slide is provided with a longitudinal slit 14.,adapted to receive one end of a measuringband 15, the same being heldtherein by a screw 16, passing through an opening 17 in the band andseated in the slide. The band may be made of any suitable material,preferably of thin flexible steel, and is adapted to pass through theguide 10, then through the orifice 7, where it is formed into a loop theneck of which is disposed in alinement with the longitudinal center ofthe shank and is held against separation from the shank by a head 18,which bears against one of the shoulders 8. The advantage of employing athin metallic tape over a wire is that it more readily conforms to thecontour of the tooth to be measured and, further, can be readilyinserted between the teeth that are closely juxtaposed, where anordinary wire, such as usually employed,

could not readily be positioned. In assembling the band with the shankthe end having the opening 17 is inserted from the back of the headthrough the orifice 7, thence bent into a loop, and the said end isagain inserted through the orifice from the end of the shank, is passedthrough the guide 10, and is secured in the slit 14 in the mannerdescribed. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 5 that the metal of theshank contiguous to the head forms a septum for keeping the two limbs ofthe band divided, and by the eoaction between the head 18 of the bandand the shoulder 8 the former will positively be held against aecidentalseparation in use.

In using the device the slide is pushed forward toward the tapered endof the shank in order to distend or open the loop of the band, and thisloop is then positioned around the tooth, after which the slide is drawnback, causing the band tightly to impinge the tooth. The operator thennotes the graduation-mark on the scale opposite which the pointer stops,and the slide is then pushed forward to distend the band and permit itsremoval from the tooth. The slide is then returned to thegraduation-mark to which it was moved in the measurement of the tooth,and the setscrew is tightened. The gold plate to form the band is thenlaid upon the flat side 'of the implement, with one end against thepointer and the scriber bearing against its under face. By giving aslight movement to the plate the scriber will make a mark, and thelength of the plate from the pointer to the scriber-mark is exactly thelength that the band is to be. The measurements secured are absolutelyaccurate and may be relied upon under all conditions.

While the device of the present invention is exceedingly simple ofconstruction, it will be found thoroughly efficient and. practical inuse and may be readily and quickly operated to obtain the desiredmeasurements. It is also exceedingly durable, the only portion liable todestruction being the measuringband, and this may readily be replaced incase of the band being provided with a head to hold it againstseparation from the shank-terminal, and its other end being connectedwith the slide.

2. 'A dentometer comprising a graduated shank having a shoulderedterminal provided with a longitudinal orifice, a slide on the shankcoacting with the graduations thereof, and a looped 111easuring-bandhaving its members disposed within the orifice and its neck arranged inalinement with the longitudinal center ofthe shank, one end of the bandbeing provided with a head coacting with one of the shoulders to hold itagainst separation from the shank-terminal, and its other end beingconnected with the slide.

3. A dentometer comprising a graduated shank having alongitudinally-oriliced terminal, a slide on the shank coacting with thegraduations thereof and provided with a longitudinal slit, a loopedmeasuring-band having its members disposed within the orifice and itsneck arranged in alinement with the longitudinal center of the shank,one end of the band being provided with a head to hold it againstseparation from the shank and the other end disposed within the slit ofthe slide, and means for securing the latter end within the slit.

4. A dentometer comprising a graduated shank having alongitudinally-orificed terminal and a guide, a slide on the shankcoacting with the graduations thereof, and a looped measuring-bandhaving its members disposed -within the orifice and its neck arranged inalinement with the longitudinal center of the shank, one end of the bandbeing provided with a head to hold it against separation from the shankand the other end of the band being passed through the guide and securedto the slide.

5. A dentometer comprising a shank having a tapered end terminating inan oriiieed head, a slide on the shank, and a looped measuringbandhaving its members disposed within the orifice and its neck arranged inalinement with the longitudinal center of the shank, one end of the bandbeing provided with means coacting with the head to hold it againstseparation from the shank-terminal and the other end being connectedwith the slide.

6. A dentometer comprising a shank provided with a tapered endterminating in an orificed head and provided with a guide, a slide onthe shank provided with clamping means, and a looped measuring-bandhaving its members disposed within the orifice and its neck arranged inalinement with the longitudinal center of the shank, one end of the bandbeing provided with means coacting with the head to hold it againstseparation from the shank, and the other end being detachabl y connectedwith the slide.

7. A dentometer comprising a graduated shank having at one end alongitudinally-orificed terminal and near its other end a scriher, aslide on the shank coacting with the graduations thereof, and a loopedmeasuring-haml ICC having its members disposed in the orifice and itsneck arranged in alinement with the 11- In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in gitudinalcenter of the shank, one end of the the pr of tWO Wi nesses.

band being provided With the head to hold i against separation. from theshank-termina and its other end being connected with th slide.

NED SHOOKLEY. Witnesses:

A. D. COLEMA E. N. CRAFT.

